"I Was Glad"

On October 22nd of this year Eugene Petersen, a prolific Christian writer and a pastor to pastors, entered into glory. His death reminded me of a little devotional book he authored entitled Praying With The Psalms: A Year of Daily Prayers and Reflections on the Words of David. It is a lovely collection of very small messages that convey very big thoughts. Here is one that I recently found particularly encouraging:
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"I Was Glad"  Read Psalm 122:1-5

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"   Psalm 122:1

The Jerusalem temple in ancient times, and the local church in our times, alike gather and order a worshiping, praising people. Any road that leads to a congregation of God's people is traveled with a glad heart.

Prayer: I give you thanks, most gracious God, for the church in which I worship, the care with which it was built, the devotion with which it is maintained, the ministering uses to which it is put. For all this I thank you, in Jesus' name. Amen
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Candy's thoughts: I absolutely love the prayer that Petersen wrote concerning his own local church, and I will use it when I pray now and in the future for Exeter Presbyterian. I was also reminded of a passage in Hebrews:

"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."  

It seems fitting that this beloved man, Eugene Petersen, would write about "the road that leads to a congregation of God's people here on earth," and that nine days ago he himself took the road leading to the "congregation of God's people" gathered in heaven above.

I am thankful that Petersen finally has a perfectly 'glad heart.'  What a homecoming! What a God!

Why Wait? Part 2

Risner's thoughts: "Abraham's faith wasn't rooted in the promise of descendants. If it was, he never would have taken Isaac to be sacrificed. He wouldn't have relinquished what God had promised him years earlier. Abraham's faith wasn't in the promise alone. His faith was rooted in the Promisor.

Because his faith was not in what God would do for him, but in God Himself, Abraham was willing to risk. He could do whatever God asked. He wasn't holding on to a particular outcome. He was holding on to God. Abraham's waiting strengthened his faith. Taught him God's ways. Showed him God's faithfulness. Abraham knew that God would provide everything he needed.

I have the same assurance Abraham did - that God will provide everything I need. As I let that promise sink in, I see my waiting differently. Perhaps God is making me - and you - wait for the same reasons that He made Abraham wait: to forge our faith. To make us attentive to His voice. To deepen our relationship. To solidify our trust. To prepare us for ministry. To transform us into His likeness.

In retrospect, I realize that this is the most precious answer God can give us: wait. It makes us cling to Him rather than to an outcome. God knows what I need; I do not. He sees the future; I cannot. His perspective is eternal; mine is not. He will give me what is best for me when it it best for me. As Paul Tripp says, 'Waiting is not just about what I get at the end of the wait, but about who I become as I wait.'"

Candy's (further) thoughts: It would be so easy, after reading the above quote, to say "Easy for you to say! You are not dealing with {insert your own particular trial here}."  But it certainly is NOT easy for Vaneetha Risner to say what she did. As a reminder, this is a woman who had 21 surgeries by age 13 due to polio, experienced immense grief at the death of child due to a physician's error, and underwent multiple miscarriages. She is presently dealing with a debilitating disease related to polio that will cause her to end up in a wheelchair unable to care for herself, and at one time was abandoned by her husband in the midst of all these afflictions and suffered through an unwanted divorce. So does she have some credibility in relating the lessons she has learned in her life?  Oh yes.

I'm not sure I've ever met a person who 'enjoys' waiting. Whether it's in line at the grocery store or sitting in a doctor's office to hear the results of serious medical testing, most of us would opt out of delays if we had the choice.

But what if we could truly adopt what Vaneetha is recommending - an attitude adjustment about waiting? Wouldn't it change us, calm us, create hope in us to contemplate the 'eternal' significance of waiting upon God?  Rather than waiting for that one prayer request to be granted - the removal of some particular suffering in our lives - wouldn't it be better to focus on the Promisor, and then on who we are becoming as our trials last longer than we desire?

May God grant us the ability to wait on Him as He waits on us to become more conformed to the image of His Son. Amen.

"My Times Are In Your Hands" Parts 1 & 2

As stated in the previous blog post, I have been reading through a little booklet entitled "My Times are in Your Hands," written by Alistair Begg and based on Psalm 31:15. Here are the first two points made by the author concerning this verse.



Begg's thoughts:

1. I am not trapped in the grip of blind forces.

2. I am not tossed about on the ocean of chance.

Candy's thoughts:

I purposely grouped these two reflections together because they are similar in application. One prime example of this philosophy of "blind forces" and "ocean of chance" is an experience we had back when Steve and I first came to Exeter to start EPC. We were in a local church on a sad day - attending the funeral service of a young man who was a father to one of our kid's friends. He had died as a result of cancer. The pastor of this church was instructing those grieving that his death had nothing to do with God at all, that cancer "just happens." He further went on to say that anyone who believed that God was involved in this death either didn't know anything about God or anything about cancer. I could not believe what I was hearing. How was this comforting to those in the midst of terrible sorrow at the loss of a beloved husband and father? I had never before heard a tragic death explained by 'chance' by a clergy member.  So sad.

Psalm 31:15 would have been a better and much more comforting message to give to those that were assembled that morning: "My times are in Your hands."  Praise God that He gives us many such reassuring reminders in His Word that He is faithful in the midst of even the most devastating life-changing events in our lives.

"My Times are in Your Hands"

Alistair Begg's thoughts: "In the opening verses of Psalm 31 it is apparent that the Psalmist is in anguish. As we read on he seems to find himself in a position of assurance just a few verses later, only to return to a state of distress immediately.

This cycle of pain and joy is not an unusual experience of Christian pilgrimage. In fact the recurrence of disappointment and distress is fairly common along the path of faith. Most of us are a jumble of emotions and a cross section of experiences. The good, the bad and the ugly wash over us regularly.

The key issue is what we do with these experiences. How does being a believer shape the way in which we view these events and our world?

Verse 15 of Psalm 31 reads, "My times are in Your hands."  These six words are the affirmation of the person who knows himself to be, despite disasters and difficulties, under the care of Almighty God. It is this certainty that will bring equilibrium to us in the span of events that would inflate our egos or crush our souls. I want to focus now on this phrase throughout the pages of this booklet. I have found nine truths, which emerge from the simple statement, "My times are in Your hands.""

Candy's thoughts: I found this gem of a booklet while following a link to a Study Bible with the notes of Charles Spurgeon included, as well as some recently recovered "lost sermons" of his. This Bible was edited by Alistair Begg, and so I was on the Truth for Life website, which is part of Begg's ministry. Anyway, I happened to see something else entitled "My Times are in Your Hands," also written by Begg. This is a verse that I've always taken comfort in, and so I included it with my purchase of the previously mentioned Bible.

This little brochure is great! It states truths which most believers "know," but which few believers really "comprehend" at a moment when a difficulty or tragedy is unfolding. Fear and panic are usually the first emotions that emerge, instead of comfort and assurance that God is sovereign.  I hope over the next few blog posts to summarize some of Begg's points, ones which we would all benefit from meditating upon. Until then, here is the entirety of Psalm 31 for context as we begin:

https://www.esv.org/Psalm+31/

The Monster of Unbelief

Spurgeon's thoughts: "Strive with all diligence to keep out the monster of unbelief. It is so dishonoring to Christ that He will withdraw His visible presence if we insult Him by tolerating it. It is true it is a weed that we can never entirely remove from the soil, but we must aim at its root with zeal and perseverance. Among hateful things it is the most to be defeated. Its hurtful nature is so poisonous that he that uses it, and he upon whom it is used, are both harmed by it. In your case, believer, it is most wicked, for the mercies of your Lord in the past increase your guilt in doubting Him now."

Candy's thoughts: In all honesty, I have been bitten time and again by this monster of unbelief. Quick little thoughts just pop into my head and I wonder where they have originated from: the world, the flesh, or the devil? Interestingly, the only common pattern that I have discerned these many years is the place where I am most likely to be attacked: in worship or while teaching the Bible. It seems as though Satan knows the exact moment to whisper within my ear little snide remarks like "You don't really believe that..." or "You are such a hypocrite to teach these women when even you sometimes doubt what you are saying..." or "Think of all the really brilliant people you admire who are not believers - they are obviously right in denying all this!" These accusations distract, distress, and ultimately depress me because I, like Spurgeon, believe that they are dishonoring to the God who has so lavishly poured out His mercies and promises upon me throughout my life.

Years ago I devised a physical response to implement whenever one of these lies is whispered in my ear. While reading the Screwtape Letters I was left with the image of a little Junior Temptor named Wormwood, who would perch on a person's shoulder within a short distance of an ear, into which he would very quietly speak thoughts of doubt and unbelief. Ever since then, whenever I am ambushed by Wormwood, I just brush my shoulder with my hand and pretend I have swept Wormwood away.

So the next time you see me in church or around a table brush something off my shoulder, please know it's not dandruff but a little demon spreading lies about our gracious and loving God. :)